Celebrate Sikh Heritage Month 2023 with Music, Art and Faith

The festival marks its 6th anniversary with scholarships, a live concert, a two-day art installation, and much more!
Sikh Heritage Month BC is celebrating its sixth anniversary with a series of events and awards aimed at recognizing and celebrating the unique contributions of Sikh Canadians.
The theme for Sikh Heritage Month 2023 is “Sacha Dhan”. Sacha Dhan loosely translates to ‘true wealth,’ and asks individuals to reflect on what true wealth means to them. Is it family? Faith? Or perhaps simply happiness? Join us as we explore the meaning of Sacha Dhan through a series of in-person events aimed at encouraging intercultural dialogue and spreading awareness about the contributions Sikh Canadians have made to the province of British Columbia for more than a century.
This year’s events include:
Sikh Heritage Month 2023 Launch Gala, April 1, 2023 at Surrey City Hall, 1:00-3:00pm. Guests will enjoy a live musical performance, a sneak peak of our arts event and plenty of food. This event will include official recognition of SHBC’s five scholarship recipients and celebration of three ‘Community Changemakers’. Members of the media and politicians are encouraged to attend and SHBC representatives will be available for interviews.
Manbir Singh, Live in Concert, April 2, 2023 at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, 5:30-7:30pm. Join us for the first ever Sikh Heritage Month live concert! Manbir Singh is a popular classical Sikh musician from Sydney, Australia, whose traditional and timeless performance is sure to capture the audience’s attention. The event will focus on Sikh musical tradition, and is open to the public with some reserved seating for members of the media and politicians. Note that this event is now sold out to the public.
Khazaana – The Treasure of Sikh Heritage, live and interactive art exhibit at Surrey City Hall, April 7, 2023 at 6:00pm and April 8, 2023 at 1:00pm. After four long years, join us at Surrey City Hall for SHBC’s live and interactive art exhibition. Khazaana means “treasure” and this event will highlight a treasure trove of local Sikh artists – including fine art, poetry, film, as well as stage performances.
Story Time with UBC Sikh Students Association, April 9, 2023 at Surrey City Centre Library, 12:00-2:00pm. In partnership with SHBC, the UBC Sikh Students’ Association will be hosting two children’s book reading sessions, with child friendly snacks and drinks provided.
SHBC Kirtan and Shastar exhibit, April 30, 2023 at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, 6:00am to 3:00pm. To close the month, SHBC will be hosting a kirtan (Sikh musical prayers) and shastar exhibit. This event will give members of the community an opportunity to learn more about the Sikh faith and community. Individuals will be available to guide visitors through the experience and answer any questions that may arise.
All guests are welcome to take part in langar, a free communal meal, during their visit. The shastar exhibit is an opportunity for guests to learn about and see first-hand, historic Sikh artefacts which were often used in battle but have also served a purpose which far surpasses that role. Caretakers of these shastars will be available to explain their significance and answer questions.
In addition to the above-noted events, SHBC will also be hosting a number of partnered events throughout the month. Further details can be found at Sikh Heritage BC.
SHBC’s education project also features five $1,500 scholarships. These scholarships are available to anyone current grade 12 students attending a post-secondary institution in September 2023, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or status. They include the Bhai Mardana Ji Arts Scholarship, the Bibi Harnam Kaur Ji Leadership Scholarship, the Mata Bhaag Kaur Ji Athletics Scholarship, the Mata Khivi Ji Community Service Scholarship, and the Sant Teja Singh Ji Academic Achievement Scholarship.
“In keeping with our mandate, these scholarships are an expansion of our education project,” says Jasleen Kaur, the Director of Education at SHBC.
“Although applications have now closed, we will formally recognize the scholarship recipients at the onset of Sikh Heritage Month. We hope funding opportunities like these will assist young British Columbians in pursuing their dreams and making an impact in their communities.”
For more information please visit: Education — Sikh Heritage BC. SHBC has also added a series of new lesson plans to supplement those which were unveiled in 2021 and 2022. These lesson plans aim to incorporate Sikh voices and stories into BC classrooms and are created by teachers for teachers. For more information please visit: Education — Sikh Heritage BC.